Full title: Movie execs after years of being bashed for inaccurate game adaptations watching Resident Evil (2026) be a critical and commercial hit despite having nothing to do with the games: (confused unga bunga)

Movie was a comedy/horror and a bit unexpected.

I haven't seen the movie yet, but in a similar vein I watched Twisted Metal recently, and it's... actually good, somehow? Much better than it would have been following any of the games' stories, or even a mash-up of them.

They've clearly used the games for humor, visuals, characters, and Easter eggs for the fans, but they somehow made something better than the sum of it's parts, and it should be looked at as a great example for other adaptations, especially action comedies.

Twisted Metal and Fallout are both examples of what can happen when showmakers understand the source material and know how to use it.

The Last of Us showed that some games make a good 1:1 translation to film.

And, unfortunately, there are a ton of movies/shows where neither of that is true.

What decides if a movie is a commercial success is whether it's a good movie that fits the expectations set by its publicity.

What decides if people will bash a movie due to it being a bad adaptation is whether it's a good adaptation of the original material.

Both of those things correlate a bit, but are mostly not related.

Here's the thing, if they're complaining it's not accurate it's because the movie is so bad they had plenty of time to think about the source while watching. Make a good movie and the rest doesn't matter.

despite having nothing to do with the games

?? It's much closer to the source than any of the (live action) movies until now, beside maybe half of the first movie - and Welcome to Raccoon City. That's why people like it. There are people who just want to see Jill and Wesker even if they have nothing to do with the game characters, and there are people who would watch any genre as long as it respects the source material even without using the actual characters. No one is actually angry at the comedy or the OC.

I watched the borderlands movie recently, and almost thought the same. Like it was nearly a good movie, the story was way too generic for a pretty unique franchise. I didnt mind the deviations from the games but once realizing the deviations were only done to fit the game lore into a nicely defined hollywood trope fest, I quickly saw the movie was a useless cash grab.

The first half I was wondering why this movie got so much hate, then about halfway through it became clear how soulless this movie really was.

I hated the movie so much. I've walked out of like 4 movies in my life. 2 of them were for health reasons. This would have made 5 except I went with a friend.

Everyone in that movie was dumb as a rock.

Watching the movie felt almost exactly like how it feels to play the games imo. Almost every line Bryan said throughout the movie was something I've said myself while playing. Trying to shoot padlocks, missing tons of pistol shots, knowing a zombie is coming and still screaming when it does...so many similar experiences. As for the plot, you hardly ever get direct continuation between games, and new lead characters are introduced all the time, so to me this easily felt like it fit in the world established by the games.

Definitely felt like it was made by a fan which I think is the most important thing in adaptations.

D&D: Honor Among Thieves is, in my opinion, the single best gaming-related franchise adaptation to film, hands down.

It's genuinely a well written adventure-comedy with fantastic characterizations and acting, on top of really understanding the heart of what it feels like to be in a D&D campaign, and an appropriate handful of in-jokes for those in the know.

Highly recommended to anyone who hasn't seen it. I've watched it multiple times, including with people who have no interest in D&D.

Wait did two movies try to kill you or something?

I think fallout handled that great with thier show. They were just like “it’s not going to be close enough for anyone to be happy anyway so we’ll just do our own thing”

It’s been pretty good despite some stuff like cold fusion being a pill for some reason.

I'm not a cinema expert, but some camera work (especially in the sewers) reminded me of the early games. There are some passages in which the movie brilliantly subverts expectations (no spoilers). The RE movies with Milla Jovovich just throwed more CGI and highly-choreographed battle sequences at the problem.

I was sold when the guy wiped his dick on the curtain.

So it's just like the games after all then

not as bad as comic/book adaptations.

That said, mechanically it makes a better Draw Steel movie. Whatsisface is a troubadour, angry lady is a fury, nature girl is a green elementalist, and sadboi is a talent.

I'd also highly recommend HarmonQuest for similar reasons.

Honestly, if I could upvote this twice, I would. I had very low expectations for that movie and came out incredibly impressed.

It was incredibly entertaining, despite having a major logic hole.

Agreed 100%. The writers and director (Dr Sweets from Bones) really knew what makes D&D so interesting and fun. The Best D&D joke in the movie is the Speak with Dead scene. A close second would be the "natural 1" of the Major Illusion of Edgin distracting the guards.

I also have a very soft spot for found family stories, and this movie makes me cry every time I watch it.

Sorry, I can't comment. I signed NDAs.

It has the obscure unbreakable locks with weird keys, the ammo boxes are accurate to the games, umbrella corporation is about what you'd expect, the main character isn't a fucking super hero (come on, give them a few movies before throwing Redfield/Kennedy in there).... idk seems like a much more grounded adaptation.

I also feel like they pandered to the fo4 crowd. That was my first and only fo game, the show really tickled my buttons. Like ya i know what the legion is and shit, and fuck was that McCalley McCalley Caulkin Caulkin? but gosh they really played out the fo4 stuff

Why do you think it has nothing to do with the games?

There's a new movie? Damn.

I liked it. not bad. horror comedy

Love that he changed his middle name lol

+1 to all of this.

The other joke that gets me ever time is the paladin walking in a straight line bit. It just completely nails the ethos of many paladin players

Yessss! I almost mentioned that but felt I was putting too much into the post already lol. Xenk walking off over the rock was such a funny moment.

Yep, there are accurate adaptations that are bad movies, and good movies that are bad adaptations, either way though they have to add up to something that will sell, and that's hard to do with corporate idiots stepping on the creators and writers. The people doing resident evil knew to get out of their way, shareholders don't.